Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo./Sunkist Kids) has been named the 2001 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the third time that Gardner has won this award (1997, 2000).    Gardner won a 2001 World Championships gold medal at 130 kg/286 pounds. Gardner became the only U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to ever win both an Olympic gold medal and a World gold medal. He is just the third U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to capture a World title, joining Mike Houck (90 kg in 1985) and Dennis Hall (57 kg in 1995).    Gardner decisioned former World silver medalist Mihaly Deak-Bardos of Hungary 2-0 in overtime in the gold medal match. Deak-Bardos had beaten Gardner twice during international events earlier in the year.    Just to win his preliminary pool, Gardner had to beat two talented stars, Yuriy Yevseychyk of Israel and Georgiy Soldadse of Ukraine. In the quarterfinals, he drew the "next Russian superstar," Yuri Patrikeev. Down 3-0, Gardner went upperbody, and threw and pinned Patrikeev at the 5:00 mark. To qualify for the finals, Gardner defeated World and Olympic medalist Sergej Moreyko of Bulgaria, 3-0. His five-match march to the title was one of the greatest U.S. Greco-Roman efforts ever.    Gardner retained the No. 1 position in the USA by winning gold medals at the U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials. It was his fourth career U.S. Nationals title. He also claimed a silver medal at the internationally respected Pytlaskinski Grand Prix in Poland.    Gardner was the 2001 USOC Male Wrestler of the Year, and placed second in the voting for the 2001 USOC SportsMan of the Year.    Gardner is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. He was an NCAA All-American at the Univ. of Nebraska and an NJCAA national champion at Ricks College. He was a state champion for Star Valley High School (Wyo.).    USA Wrestling will be announcing major award winners each day this week on TheMat.com, the official web page of the Amateur Wrestling Alliance.    PAST GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS  2001 - Rulon Gardner, Cascade, Colo., Sunkist Kids  2000 - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo., Sunkist Kids  1999 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army  1998 - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids  1997 - Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids  1996 - Dennis Hall, Stevens, Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1995 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1994 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1993 - James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids